Leaf Bag Program Still Being Tested in Town of Smithtown

Since the fall of 2008, 1000 homes in Kings Park have been issued paper leaf disposal bags by the Town of Smithtown as part of a pilot recycling program, Russ Barnett, environmental protection director for the Town of Smithtown, said. 

Barnett said the homes in Kings Park were picked because of their proximity to the Town recycling plant in Kings Park, and that if the plan works for three years – ending in the fall of 2011 – it may be presented to the Town Board for expansion throughout the rest of the Town of Smithtown. 

Patch user, , brought this to our attention with . Barnett said it has nothing to do with tax funds or where in the Town you reside, it was simply the proximity issue and that they are testing the program to see if indeed using paper bags, instead of plastic, will save money for the Town. The Town Board will ultimately need to vote to put this plan into place Town-wide, Barnett said. 

Barnett said the Town is also trying to determine whether or not landscapers will use the mulch created by grinding the leaves and paper bags together, the new recycling process, or if the Town will have to figure out additional disposal methods. 

Have a question for Patch? Shout it, comment below, or e-mail victoria@patch.com.